bibliochresis
English
Etymology
From biblio- (“book”), from Ancient Greek βῐβλῐ́ον (bĭblĭ́on), + χρῆσῐς (khrêsĭs, “use, usage, employment”).
Noun
bibliochresis (uncountable)
- (literary, rare) The use of books.
- 1883 April 5, “Notes”, in The Nation […], volume XXXVI, number 927, New York, N.Y.: The Evening Post Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 297, column 2:
- Not much appears to have come of the talk; most of our college libraries, so far as we know, are conducted in the same way as before, with very little effort to train the students in what should be called not so much bibliography (description of books) as bibliochresis (use of books). But the idea has taken root lower down. The public librarian may soon deserve the additional title of Master of Bibliochresis.
- 1883 July, “Public Meeting of the Society for Home Culture”, in Isaac Sharpless, Watson W[ood] Dewees, editors, The Student, volume III, number 11, Philadelphia, Pa.: Franklin Printing House, […], →OCLC, pages 356–357:
- Our rolé is chiefly that of directors in the use of books—“professors of bibliochresis” the New York Nation would perhaps be pleased to call us. In the vast wilderness of literature with which we are surrounded there is great need for guide-posts both as to what and how to read. […] The child is taught to read without being instructed in “bibliochresis.” His untrained powers of discrimination do not guide him aright in the selection of reading matter, sensational literature attracts his attention, and he is in danger of falling a prey to that most fruitful agent of evil, bad books.
- 1893 November, E[rnest] C[ushing] Richardson, “Library Science and Other Sciences”, in The Princeton College Bulletin […], volume V, number 4, Princeton, N.J.: […] Princeton Press, →OCLC, Summaries of Papers Read before Scientific Societies, page 86:
- The book sciences (Bibliology) may be divided into: 1. Bibliography, or book description; 2. Bibliopoesy, or making of books; 3. Bibliopoly, or distribution of books; 4. Bibliochresis, or the theory of book use; 5. Bibliothecology, or the gathering of books into libraries and their public use. Library science, or Bibliothecology, is the climax of the book sciences. The book sciences, in turn, are among the anthropological sciences, and their place may be indicated as follows: I. Theology. II. Anthropology. 1. “Metaphysical sciences” (?) (1) Philosophical sciences. (2) Literary sciences. A. Language and literature. B. Bibliology. a. Bibliography b. Bibliopoesy. c. Bibliopoly. d. Bibliochresis. e. Bibliothecology.
- 1923 March–April, William A[llen] Hamor, “Bibliography, the Foundation of Scientific Research”, in Leonore A[ugusta] Tafel, editor, Special Libraries, volume 14, number 3, Washington, D.C.: […] Special Libraries Association, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 17 and 20:
- To be successful in labora[t]ory research, a scientist must possess specialized knowledge of and interest in bibliochresis, the systematic use of scientific books and periodicals, as well as intimate acquaintance and regard for experimental methodology. […] The search methods of bibliochresis are also the indispensable tools of research workmen in the solution of many minor questions and problems which arise constantly during the conduct of laboratory experimentation. […] One experienced in chemical bibliochresis is able to find at least a reference to the technical or scientific report in which he is interested.
- 1961 December, “For All Bibliophiles”, in The Bookmark, volume 14, number 2, Moscow, Ida.: University of Idaho Library, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 46:
- In addition there is the biblioklept who is a book thief, the bibliopole or bibliopolist who is a bookseller, especially of rare books, and the bibliognost who is adept in bibliography. And it is likely a sure wager to say that all of you are familar[sic] with the art of bibliochresis to various degrees.